The first round started off predictably, which left me, and I’m sure many others, wondering if/when the shoe was gonna drop, and it did. Pick 8 saw the first big shock, pick 10 saw the first of five first round trades, pick 12 saw the sixth quarterback of the draft selected, while pick 15 saw the first defender selected, and the round rounded out with the seventh wide receiver. The round saw one of the best graded rounds I can remember, with a smattering of stunners and stumpers to at least allow a cathartic “Wait… they did what?” moments.
Reminder:
No QB pick (in the 1st round) will be rated below C- because I whole
heartedly endorse the idea if you think a QB is good enough you should always
take him round 1, and if I believe you should go get your guy if you believe at
the most important position in football, I can’t really blame anyone for taking
that swing. My analysis of the pick will be harsher than the grade.
1)
Chicago Bears from Carolina
– Caleb Williams, QB, USC – Grade: A+
2)
Washington Commanders
– Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU – Grade: A-
3)
New England Patriots
– Drake Maye, QB, UNC – Grade: A+
4)
Arizona Cardinals
– Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State – Grade: A+
5)
Los
Angeles Chargers – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame – Grade: A-
This
was all pretty much what we expected if everyone stayed put, which tackle was
going to go first was really the biggest question and even then, the general
consensus was Alt.
6)
New York Giants
– Malik Nabers, WR, LSU – Grade: A+
7)
Tennessee Titans
– JC Latham, OT, Alabama – Grade: C+
8)
Atlanta Falcons
– Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington – Grade: C-
9)
Chicago Bears
– Rome Odunze, WR, Washington – Grade: A+
This
is where the draft started to turn, Nabers to the Giants was the smart
move in my mind on a team devoid of skill talent and the fact that I think
McCarthy was a step behind the top 3. Latham wasn’t my favorite tackle
but, like most of the second quarter of the draft we’re looking at half round reaches.
Before we get to the obvious craziness, I just want to say I love the Rome
pick. I highlighted it in my mock that it would be one of my favorites, and I
felt the same way during the draft and this morning. I don’t understand the Penix
pick, I think McCarthy is better and younger, I don’t think potentially sitting
an already older prospect a couple of years is great, and if Cousins really is
that questionable (understandable for a 35-year-old coming off an Achilles
injury) then why did they break the bank for him. This one just doesn’t make a
lot of sense to me.
Trade:
Minnesota gets 10 &203 to New York (A) 11, 129 & 157 – Grade:
MIN (C-)|NYJ (A-)
Minnesota
gave up roughly 20% value to move up a spot to block any other trade partner.
10)
Minnesota Vikings from New York (A)
– J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan – Grade: C+
11)
New York Jets from Minnesota
– Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State – Grade: C+
12)
Denver Broncos
– Bo Nix, QB, Oregon – Grade: C-
13)
Las Vegas Raiders
– Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia – Grade: C
14)
New Orleans Saints
– Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State – Grade: B-
15)
Indianapolis Colts
– Laiatu Latu, Edge, Penn State – Grade: A+
16)
Seattle Seahawks
– Byron Murphy II, INT, Texas – Grade: A+
I
don’t love McCarthy but I think this offense is the best situation he could
have landed scheme-wise and he has plenty of weapons to make his transition smooth.
I like Olu, it was a perfectly good pick, a slight reach but a good
player. Nix, like Penix was a reach plain and simple, I think they’re
similar talents, and if not for my C- rule this would have been multiple steps
above that pick because it’s not top 10, it takes a swing at a need even if I don’t
think it was a good pick. Speaking of baffling picks, Bowers to the Raiders.
I love Bowers as a prospect, he’s gonna make the offense more dynamic, but he’s
not an in-line guy, at least not yet and I hope they don’t mire him in the
muck. Let Mayer be that guy, move Bowers all around and be a matchup problem. Fuaga
was my favorite tackle even if he wasn’t my top-rated tackle. He’s mean, a
fluid athlete, and strong New Orleans got better on the line. Indy and Seattle
got steals with Latu and Murphy and benefitted from the QB
craziness at the top and got better and more disruptive in the front four.
Trade:
Minnesota gets 17, Jacksonville gets 23, 167, ’25 3rd,
’25 4th – Grade: MIN (D)|JAX (A)
Minnesota
gave up roughly 40% value to move up 6 spots and take the second-best edge on
my board
17)
Minnesota Vikings from Jacksonville
– Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama – Grade: A
18)
Cincinnati Bengals
– Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia – Grade: A-
19)
Los Angeles Rams
– Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State – Grade: B
20)
Pittsburgh Steelers
– Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington – Grade: B-
21)
Miami Dolphins
– Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State – Grade: A
22)
Philadelphia Eagles
– Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo – Grade: A+
23)
Jacksonville Jaguars from MIN from HOU
from CLE – Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU – Grade: A+
While
I think the Vikings gave up too much in the trade Turner is a fantastic
player and a young replacement/depth addition after the departure of Danielle
Hunter. Mims is a big swing for the Bengals, a true boom bust on an
amazing athlete with injury, and rawness, issues. I liked Verse more
than many, but he’s a very good solid player but I’m not as sold about him
standing up on the edge. Fautanu is much needed line help for the
Steelers who have had subpar line play for a number of years now. Chop adds
an incredible first step to bookend with Phillips for the Dolphins, a great swing
with great upside at 21. A top 10 talent on my board at 22, I have my questions
but Mitchell is very good even if I would have taken a couple other
corners on personal preference. Thomas is a welcome high upside,
technically proficient addition to the Jaguars offense.
Trade:
Detroit gets 24 & ’25 7th, Dallas gets 29 & 73 – Grade:
DET (C-)|DAL (A-)
Detroit
gave up roughly 5% to move up 5 spots
24)
Detroit Lions from Dallas
– Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama – Grade: A+
25)
Green Bay Packers
– Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona – Grade: D
26)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Graham Barton, C, Duke – Grade: A-
27)
Arizona Cardinals from Houston
– Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri – Grade: B+
Detroit
got better in the secondary, plain and simple with Arnold. Morgan
is fine, he was my 6th rated guard, he’s a swing tackle at best for
me and there were many better values still on the board. I would have rather
the Packers take Barton for example, a 4-year starting tackle at Duke he
projects inside to guard or center but he’s a very good athlete with good
strength/anchor. Robinson is a big, heavy handed athletic 280 pound 4-3
DE/3-tech, a good solid pick for the Cardinals.
Trade:
Kansas City gets 28, 133 & 248, Buffalo gets 32, 95 & 221
– Grade: KC (C+)|BUF (B+)
Kansas
City gave up roughly 5% value to move up 4 spots
28)
Kansas City from Buffalo
– Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas – Grade: B
29)
Dallas Cowboys from Detroit
– Tyler Guyton, OL, Oklahoma – Grade: C
30)
Baltimore Ravens
– Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson – Grade: A
31)
San Francisco 49ers
– Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida – Grade: B
Kansas
City trades up and gets Worthy, a great athlete, and a good WR even if
he wasn’t my top rated on the board. Now we just need people to stop talking
about him like he only ran 9 routes. If the Packers were gonna reach on a line
prospect, I would have been more on board with someone with Guyton’s
athletic profile. Wiggins is slight, but tough nosed and athletic. Good
pick. Pearsall wouldn’t have been my WR pick at this point but he’s a
very good athlete, with much better work than I expected.
Trade:
Carolina gets 32 & 200, Buffalo gets 33 & 141 – Grade: CAR (C+)|BUF
(B+)
Carolina
gave up roughly 6% value 1 spot
32) Carolina
Panthers from BUF from KC – Xavier Legette, WR, South
Carolina – Grade: C+
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